As the Vienna Philharmonic finished its annual outdoor program at the Schonbrunn Castle, the guest conductor Daniel Barenboim exclaimed to the 50,000 gathered that he had a new hope because of the speech by the American President Obama on that day.  The statement was met with a roar of approval.  The next day, every major newspaper…

Historic. Brilliant. Nearly Perfect. The tone of President Obama’s speech in Cairo was most reminiscent of his masterful speech on race in America:  acknowledging open wounds on all sides, while laying out a hopeful vision for a shard future.   It was a masterful narrative rejecting the Neo-conservative nightmare of the past 8 years which perpetuated…

Following the President’s Cairo University speech a number of journalists commented that it was a political speech and not very “religious.”  Indeed, one referred to his policy remarks as “wonky” in which he primarily addressed seven areas of tension that exist between the United States and Muslims around the world. The President moved the discussion…

While doves in the American Jewish community are lining up to support President Obama in his supposed confrontation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, the hard-nosed supporters of the Occupation can sigh with relief. Nothing proposed by Obama is likely to change the realities on the ground in the West Bank. Obama’s insistence that negotiations begin…

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